Reports coming out of Turkey yesterday have another Liverpool star making a move to the continent with Galatasaray reportedly striking a deal with the Reds to take veteran midfielder Lucas on loan for the coming campaign. While there’s been no direct quotes from either party, Turkish media outlet Fotomac are saying that Aslanlar director of football Cenk Ergun has completed talks with the Anfield outfit and £800,000 will be coming their way if personal terms with the Brazilian are hashed out.
Having fallen down the depth charts since Jurgen Klopp arrived at Anfield back in October, this wouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Without European football on Merseyside this season, chances could be few and far between for the 29-year old who was deployed as a makeshift central defender on more than one occasion during the closing stages of last year. Although he’s taken part in both of their pre-season friendlies over the past two weeks, the player himself admitted that he could be forced to move on this summer.
“There have been some changes last season, with the coaching change,” said the long serving midfielder, speaking to Brazilian radio station Joven Pan last month. “I still do not know exactly what will be my role within the group,” continued Lucas, prior to returning to Melwood. “Whatever happens, the idea, as always, is to stay in Europe, especially in England, which has a very strong and good league to play.”
Competition for a spot in Liverpool’s midfielder will be as fierce as ever this season with the likes of Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and new boy Marko Grujic all vying for a spot in the middle of the park. Almost guaranteed first team football at the Turk Telekom Arena, this could be the best move for both the player and the club. With that being said, wages could be a sticking point in getting the deal done; the Brazilian is on £60,000k per week at Liverpool which is a substantial chunk of change that Galatasaray may be outright adverse to or unable to pay.
